Drowning Victim Identified as Long Beach High Senior Set to Graduate Friday Night

The identity of the drowning victim pulled from the Wolf River Thursday night has been identified as Peyton Taylor Henson, a Long Beach High School senior who was set to walk across the stage tonight with his fellow senior bearcats to be given his high school diploma.

Rescue crews worked throughout the evening Thursday after a young man was reported missing just before 5 p.m. by some friends he was with near the Bells Ferry Bridge on the Wolf River in northwest Harrison County.

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The Long Beach School District’s website confirms that young man is Peyton Taylor Henson. Long Beach School District Superintendent Dr. Jay Smith posted these words of consolation on the school district’s website Friday morning: “The Long Beach School District is saddened at the tragic death of Peyton Taylor Henson who lost his life yesterday. He was scheduled to graduate tonight at 6:00 p.m. with the rest of our 2019 Bearcat senior class. On behalf of the entire district, our thoughts and prayers go out to Peyton’s family, and I personally pray that they will be comforted by the mercy and love of our heavenly Father. The Long Beach School District family stands ready to comfort and assist all those who loved Peyton. May God bless them at this most difficult time.”

No official word yet on the circumstances surrounding Henson’s death. The school district tells News 25 plans are underway to have an event to honor Henson’s life. We’ll share those details, and more, with you as they become available.